NETBALL
PACKET # 29
INSTRUCTIONS
This Learning Packet has two parts: (1) text to read and (2) questions to answer.
The text describes a particular sport or physical activity and relates to its history, rules,
playing techniques, scoring, notes and news.
The Response Forms (questions and puzzles) check your understanding and
appreciation of the sport or physical activity.
INTRODUCTION
Netball is a fast, skillful game that involves running, jumping, throwing and catching.
It is a team game, played by two teams of seven players. The aim of the game is to score
more goals than your opposition. Netball is somewhat like basketball but not as rough.
There’s more passing in Netball because you are not permitted to run with the ball.
Netball is one of the most popular participation sports in Australia, New Zealand, Great
Britain and South Africa. It is also growing in popularity throughout the world.
After a lackluster birth in America as “Women’s Basketball,” Netball has developed
into a popular female sport, and is quickly becoming popular with men.
HISTORY OF THE GAME
Netball actually began in the United States when the game
of basketball was invented in 1891 by the Canadian
immigrant, James Naismith. Women’s indoor basketball
began shortly thereafter. But it wasn’t until 1895 that the
present game of netball came about.
Netball was first played at Madame Ostenburg’s College in
England in 1895. By 1897 the game was being played on
grass courts by women and was called netball.
The All England Net Ball Association was formed in 1926,
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#29 Netball
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changing its name in 1935 to the All England Women’s Association for Net Ball and
Other Hand Ball Games. Finally, in 1944 it became the All England Netball
Association.
The game is predominately played in countries of the British Commonwealth including
Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies. The game has spread to many other
countries including Japan, Canada and America.
The International Federation of Women’s Basketball and Netball Associations were
formed in 1960. Formal rules were established and a decision was made to hold World
Championship tournaments every four years beginning in 1963. Until there were
standardized rules, five-a-side and nine-a-side versions of the game co-existed with the
present seven-a-side format.
The Australian women are the most dominant team in the world championships. In
Australia the game was called Women’s Basketball until 1970.
HOW NETBALL IS PLAYED
The game of Netball is played either indoors or out on a hard surface by two teams of
seven players. The game requires goals to be scored by throwing a ball through a ring
which is attached to a post 3.05 meters high. Players must pass or shoot within three
seconds. Contact which interferes with play is not allowed.
Speed, strategy, team work and co-ordination are essential skills for Netball. This game
is about running, jumping, throwing, catching, attacking, defending,
scoring goals and stopping goals.
The rules are simple. There are seven players on each team and each
player has a position. The positions are: Goal Shooter, Goal Attack,
Wing Attack, Center, Wing Defense, Goal Defense and Goal
Keeper.
Each position is specialized and has a specific purpose. For
example, only the Goal Shooter and Goal Attack are allowed to
shoot the goals and only the Center can restart the game after each
goal is scored. Positions are limited to certain areas of the court and the ball must be
touched by a player in each third on its way to the shooters.
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Limited body contact is allowed and you must give the player who has the ball a
distance of one meter before you can defend.
Each player has a playing position determined by the areas on the court where she or he
may move. The playing positions are shown by identification letters worn above the
waist, on both the front and the back of the player.
The purpose of the game is to score as many goals as possible from within an area called
the Goal Circle, which is a semi-circle centered on the goal line and measuring 4.9
meters in radius (16 feet).
Minor rule violations include: a held ball, taking steps,
breaking, offside and over a third. These are penalized with a
free pass. Major rule violations consist of: obstruction,
intimidation, contact and discipline. These are penalized with
a penalty pass or a shot. With this penalty, the offender must
stand out of play until the ball has left the thrower's hands.
A game consists of four 15 minute quarters with an interval of
three minutes between the first and second and third and fourth
quarters and a five minute half-time interval. There is up to
two minutes of time allowed for an injury.
There are many variations of the game, including indoor netball, five-a-side netball and
social netball played in the off season.
Equipment
The Ball is made of leather, rubber or similar material, weighing 400 - 450 gms (14 16 ounces) and measuring 690 - 710 mms (27 - 28 inches) in circumference. Playing
Surface
The Court is 30.5 meters (100 feet) long and 15.25 meters (50 feet) wide, which is
divided into thirds. There is a center circle with a diameter of 0.9 meters (3 feet) and
two goal circles which are semi-circles measuring 4.9 meters (16 feet) in radius.
All lines are part of the court and measure 50mm (2 inches) in width.
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The Goal Posts are placed mid point on each goal line and measure 3.05 meters (10
feet) in height. The goal rings have an internal diameter of 380mm (15 inches). The
goal ring projects horizontally from the post on a single attachment measuring 150mm
(6 inches) in length.
Playing Techniques
Shooting Tips:
Feet: Your feet should be shoulder width apart (for better balance), pointing toward the
post.
Hands: Place the ball in one hand on your fingers - not on the tips, but not flat on the
palm (a finger space between the ball and palm). Your other hand is used to support the
ball only. Rest it slightly on the ball during the whole motion.
Arms: Your arm should be straight above your
head and almost resting against your ear. Try not to
arch your back.
Arms and legs: Your arms and legs bend at the
same time, again making sure that your elbows and
knees are pointing to the post. When bending your
arm it is mostly a drop from the elbow not the
shoulder. Your elbow should not come forward.
Your other hand supports the ball on the drop
behind the head - so it doesn’t fall off your hand.
Passes
It is important not to ignore the fundamentals of the game which include throwing and
catching. Attributes of a good netballer include strong hands to catch and throw. This
is because the game is dependent on the ball being passed with speed and accuracy
down the court. Consequently, spend time in each training session on throwing and
catching and remember the following hints:
When throwing: Have fingers well spread. Follow through by transferring your
weight from your back foot to the front foot. Throw into the space ahead of the catcher’s
fingers. Use a variety of passes.
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When catching: Watch the ball until it is in your fingers. Open fingers wide to
receive the ball, with thumbs behind. Drive your hands out toward the ball and snatch
ball in close to the body.
NETBALL NEWS & NOTES
The International Federation of Women’s Basketball and Netball established that World
Championship tournaments would be held every four years, beginning in Eastbourne,
England, in 1963.
Since then World Championships have been held in Australia 1967, Jamaica 1971, New
Zealand 1975, Trinidad & Tobago 1979, Singapore 1983, Scotland 1987, Australia
1991, England 1995, New Zealand 1999 and Jamaica 2003. Throughout this period,
Australia has dominated, winning the event in 1963, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1991,
1995, and 1999. In 2003, New Zealand broke Australia’s winning streak in the final
game with a 49-47 win. Fiji will host the next Netball World Championship which will
be played in 2007. World Championship games are played every four years.
In 1995 netball became recognized as an Olympic sport but as yet has not appeared at
an Olympic Games. Netball was included in the Commonwealth Games program, for
the first time, in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, where Australia took the Gold medal. In 2002
Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England. Australia prevailed in
sudden death to defeat New Zealand 57-55. In 2006 it was the third time in which
netball, (one of the only women-only sports), was played in the Commnwealth Games.
The games were played in Melbourne, Australia. In the final game New Zealand
defeated Australia 60-55 for the championship.
Websites that can provide you with information about netball include:
http://www.netball.org/
http://www.netball.asn.au/
http://www.sportisgood.com/netball.html
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STUDENT RESPONSE PACKET #29
NETBALL
NAME _____________________________
DATE______________________________
WHAT TO DO
The following questions will help you to have a greater appreciation and
understanding of Netball. Write your answers in the spaces below the questions. If
there is not enough room, write on the backs of these sheets. Be neat, spell correctly,
and write in complete sentences.
1.
In what countries is the game of Netball most popular?
2.
Who is James Naismith?
3.
Where and when was Netball first played?
4.
What are essential skills for Netball?
5.
Name the positions in Netball.
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6.
What two players are allowed to shoot the ball?
7.
Which players must touch the ball on its way to the shooters?
8.
What determines a player’s position on the court or where a player may
move?
9.
When you look at a player how are you able to tell their playing position?
10.
Minor rule violations include what infractions?
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Text © 2006 The Advantage Press, Inc.
well spread
10 Netball was first played at ______ Ostenburg’s College
11 Each player position is ____ and has a specific purpose
14 It is important not to ignore the fundamentals of the game which include ____ and catching
16 Taking steps is considered this type of rule violation
17 This word describes the rules of netball
Down
1 Positions are limited for play on certain parts of this
2 All ______ Netball Association
4 A good netballer has strong ones
6 One of the four essential skills for netball
7 This Canadian invented the game of basketball
9 A fast, skillful game that involves running, jumping, throwing and catching
11 The number of players on each side in a game of netball
12 Only a little is allowed
13 A game consists of _____ 15 minute quarters
15 Can be played here or outdoors
18 Major rule violations are penalized with a penalty _____ or shot
Physical Education Learning Packets
#29 Netball
Text © 2006 The Advantage Press, Inc.
Name: ___________________
Date: __________
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
AUSTRALIAN
CATCHING
CIRCLE
CONTACT
COURT
ENGLAND
FINGERS
HANDS
INDOORS
JUMPING
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11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
MADAME
MINOR
NAISMITH
NETBALL
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PLAYER
SEVEN
SPECIALIZED
STRATEGY
THROWING
Text © 2006 The Advantage Press, Inc.
Physical Education Learning Packets
#29 Netball
Text © 2006 The Advantage Press, Inc.